What should a child bring?
The following is a guide for what to pack for a program at Cottage by the Sea.
What to bring to Cottage
Please label each item with your child’s name – only send casual clothes, not the child’s best clothes.
✓ A large garbage bag for dirty clothes and wet towels.
✓ A self-addressed, stamped envelope if your child would like to write a letter back home.
✓ Pillow and sleeping bag – Cottage by the Sea does not provide any bedding. Unless otherwise discussed.
✓ If your child uses a specific brand of sunscreen, please pack this.
General
✓ Underwear x4
✓ Socks x4
✓ Pyjamas
✓ Runners x2
✓ Bathers
✓ Bath towel
✓ Toiletries
(soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush etc.)
✓ Drink bottle
Summer
✓ Hat with peak or brim
✓ Shorts/skirt x2
✓ T-shirts x2
(must have sleeves – no singlets or tank tops)
Winter
✓ Long pants x2
✓ Jumpers x2
✓ Long-sleeve shirts/skivvies x3
✓ Jacket
✓ Beanie or other hat
What NOT to bring to Cottage
Any of these will be stored by Cottage staff until the end of the program:
× Mobile phones, cameras, media players, Nintendo Switch or ANY electronic items – these will be stored by staff until the end of the program.
× Money
× Torches
× Thongs or open-toe shoes
× Singlets that don’t cover shoulders
× Food (unless discussed with school or Cottage). We are a nut-free facility and carefully monitor for any allergies or dietary requirements. Any food brought to Cottage will be stored by staff until the end of the program.
Dietary requirements, anaphylaxis & allergies
Our chef is accustomed to catering for any kind of dietary requirement and/or allergy your child may have. Our chef will follow strict procedures to make sure their food is prepared safely. In some cases where our chef cannot meet the dietary requirement stated, your child may need to bring their own food (this will be discussed prior to attending Cottage if it needs to occur).
We have a very strict no-nut policy at Cottage by the Sea. No nuts can enter our premises for any reason.
If you child has anaphylactic reactions, you will need to provide us with an anaphylaxis management plan and please make sure your child brings their own EpiPen to Cottage. Every staff member in our Programs Team is trained in first aid, including responding to allergic anaphylaxis reactions.
Medication
If your child is on prescription medication in tablet form, you must send the medication with clear instructions of dosage and time of administration. All medications must be handed to the leading camp organiser from your school.
If you have a child attending a REEF or Mentor program, the medication must be in a Webster Pack, which can be obtained from your chemist.
If the medication is over-the-counter, a hand-written note is required from the parent/guardian with dosage details that is given to the teaching staff with authorisation to administer the medication. If you have any queries regarding medication, please contact the school directly or Cottage by the Sea on 5258 1663.
Behavioural expectations
Cottage by the Sea programs focus on respect – for each other, for staff, for our facility. At the start of each program, the children create a set of agreed camp rules and acceptable behaviour.
If a problem occurs while on a program at Cottage, we have a 3-strike disciplinary warning system in place. It works in 3 steps:
- A written warning in our daily diary that is signed off by the staff and child.
- We call home and speak to the child’s parents or guardians and inform them of the situation.
- We ask the parent or guardian to come and collect the child.